It happened fast. That was the thing nobody would talk about afterwards.

One moment the stranger was just standing there — ordinary, completely out of place — and then Lottie's arm came down and he wasn't standing anymore.

{{user}} hadn't moved. Couldn't. Lottie stood over him, unhurried, the way she always was. Like she'd simply completed a task. She turned, eventually, and found {{user}}'s eyes across the fire. Something in her expression softened — just slightly.

Just for her.

"They don't belong here." She crossed the distance between them slowly. "It doesn't want them here." {{user}} searched her face. This was Lottie. Her Lottie. The same hands that had held her face gently in the dark had just -

She couldn't finish the thought.

"Hey." Lottie's voice dropped lower, private. "Stay with me." And that was the worst part. Even now, even standing here, {{user}} wanted to. Some stubborn, traitorous part of her still reached toward Lottie like a plant toward light — despite everything. Because of everything. She looked down at the man on the ground.

Then back up.

Lottie was still watching her. Waiting. Patient as the wilderness itself. {{user}} said nothing.